Climate Museum
The Climate Museum is a nonprofit organization in New York City and the first museum dedicated to climate change and climate solutions in the United States.[1][2] Its mission is "to inspire action on the climate crisis with programming across the arts and sciences that deepens understanding, builds connections, and advances just solutions."[3] The Climate Museum does not have a permanent location, but has continued to present exhibitions and programs across New York City since its inception.
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Established | July 2015 |
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Location | New York City (not yet constructed) |
Coordinates | 40.755658°N 73.971375°W |
Director | Miranda Massie |
Website | www |
History
The Climate Museum initiative was conceived of in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.[4] Climate Museum founder and director Miranda Massie was at the time serving as the Interim Director of the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI).[5] Her work in civil rights led her to see climate change through the lens of social activism.[6] Massie left NYLPI in March 2014 to found the Climate Museum Launch Project.[7][8][9] The Museum was granted a five-year charter by the State of New York in July 2015, and received 501(c)3 nonprofit status in February 2016.[10][11]
Programming
The Climate Museum's first exhibition, In Human Time, was presented at the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center at Parsons School of Design, The New School from December 2017 to February 2018.[12] It explored intersections of polar ice, humanity, and time through installations of work by artists Zaria Forman and Peggy Weil.[13][14][15]
In September 2018, the Climate Museum launched the citywide, outdoor public art installation Climate Signals by Justin Brice Guariglia.[16] This installation ran through November 2018 and consisted of 10 solar-powered highway signs in New York City parks across all five boroughs, programmed to flash messages about climate in five languages at passersby. It was presented in partnership with the NYC Mayor's Office Climate Policy and Programs.[17] The exhibition received press attention.[18][19][20][21]
From September 2018 to October 2018, the Climate Museum operated its first temporary space on Governors Island at the Admiral's House.[22] The space included the exhibition Climate Changers of New York, a portrait exhibition by David Noles presented in partnership with the NYC Climate Action Alliance, and a digital interactive activity, "Create Your Own Climate Signal." Throughout Fall 2018, the Climate Museum offered programming in the arts, science education, community engagement, as well as screenings, panels and talks.[23][24][25]
From March to June 2019, in partnership with the NYC Department of Education's (DOE) Office of Sustainability, the Climate Museum offered a citywide spoken word program for high school students called Climate Speaks, a series of workshops and rehearsals dedicated to the climate crisis that culminated in a final performance at the Apollo Theater on June 14, 2019.[26][27]
Taking Action was the Climate Museum's second exhibition on Governors Island and ran from June to October 2019. Through interactive installations and on-site guidance, visitors were invited to learn about clean energy and other mitigation strategies, and the obstacles in transition to a carbon-free economy and culture.[28]
The Climate Museum is part of the Museums and Climate Change Working Group, a coalition of museums around the world working to incorporate climate change into their exhibitions and programming.[29]
Exhibitions
In Human Time
![](../I/ArashFewzee_20180125_SJDCGalleryPhotos23.jpg.webp)
The Climate Museum's first exhibition, In Human Time, was presented at the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center at Parsons School of Design, The New School from December 2017 to February 2018. It addressed polar ice loss through installations of work by artists Zaria Forman and Peggy Weil.[13][14][15]
Climate Signals
![](../I/ClimateSignalssigb.jpg.webp)
In September 2018, the Climate Museum presented a citywide, outdoor public art installation, Climate Signals by Justin Brice Guariglia. This installation ran through November 2018 and consisted of 10 solar-powered highway signs in New York City parks in five boroughs, programmed to flash messages about climate in five languages at passersby. It was presented in partnership with the NYC Mayor's Office Climate Policy and Programs.[18][19][20][21]
The Climate Museum Hub
![](../I/ElizabethIbarra_20181019_NRDCTour127.jpg.webp)
From September 2018 to October 2018, the Climate Museum operated its first temporary space on Governors Island at the Admiral's House. The space included the exhibition Climate Changers of New York, a portrait exhibition by David Noles presented in partnership with the NYC Climate Action Alliance, and a digital interactive activity, "Create Your Own Climate Signal." Throughout Fall 2018, the Climate Museum offered programming in the arts, science education, community engagement, as well as screenings, panels and talks.[23][24][25]
![](../I/LisaGoulet_20190705_TakingAction73.jpg.webp)
Taking Action
Taking Action was the Climate Museum's second exhibition on Governors Island and ran from June to October 2019. Through interactive installations and on-site guidance, visitors were presented with information about clean energy and other mitigation strategies, as well as the obstacles to societal transition to a carbon-free economy and culture. The exhibition also included options for taking climate action in concert with other visitors. A series of events including panels and workshops took place throughout the exhibition.[28] During summer months, the exhibition was staffed by high school docents.
Programs
Climate Speaks
![](../I/RamiAbouemira_20190324_SpeaksManhattan117.jpg.webp)
Climate Speaks [30] is the Climate Museum's annual citywide youth arts program presented in partnership with the NYC Department of Education's (DOE) Office of Sustainability. Climate Speaks includes workshops on climate and creative writing for high school students. The 2019 program ended with a final performance at the Apollo Theater on June 14, 2019.[26][27] The 2020 program is currently ongoing.
Additional programs
The Climate Museum hosts public pop-up programs and events that incorporate arts, science education, and community engagement.
References
- "A Lawyer Quit Her Job to Start a Climate Museum in New York". The New York Times. August 21, 2015. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
- "A Trip to a Museum for Convincing Americans About Climate Change". The Atlantic. February 5, 2018. ISSN 0276-9077. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- "About the Climate Museum".
- "A Lawyer Quit Her Job to Start a Climate Museum in New York". The New York Times. August 21, 2015. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
- "Miranda Massie". Linkedin.
- Degroot, Dagomar (June 1, 2015). "A Conversation with Miranda Massie". Historical Climatology. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- "A Lawyer Quit Her Job to Start a Climate Museum in New York". The New York Times. August 21, 2015. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
- "The Museum of the Future Looks to Heal the Planet | The Takeaway | WNYC". WNYC. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
- Tabary, Zoe. "From ghost boats to water treasures, museums seek to spur climate..." U.S. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
- Laguerre-Wilkinson, Magalie (October 18, 2017). "Miranda Massie on the Impacts of Climate Change and New York's Climate Museum". Carnegie Council of Ethics in International Affairs. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
- Karvelas, Patricia (July 17, 2017). "Museums in the age of climate change". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- "In Human Time".
- "As the World Melts, an Artist Finds Beauty in Ancient Ice". The New Yorker. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
- Raskin, Laura. "A Trip to a Museum for Convincing Americans About Climate Change". The Atlantic. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
- "The Climate Museum Captures the Gravity of a Global Crisis". Hyperallergic. February 9, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
- "Climate Signals".
- "Climate Museum Sends Distress Signals to Stimulate Discussion". The New York Times. August 30, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- "Climate Museum Sends Distress Signals to Stimulate Discussion". The New York Times. August 30, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- "Signs of climate change pop up in New York — really". The Washington Post. September 7, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- "'Art can play a valuable role': climate change installations appear in New York". The Guardian. September 4, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- "Ask a Scientist: How to Deal with a Climate-Change Skeptic". The New Yorker. November 17, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- "The Climate Museum Hub".
- "Ask a Scientist: How to Deal with a Climate-Change Skeptic". The New Yorker. November 17, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- "South Bronx teens get creative about climate change". Grist. October 23, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- "Queens Museum hosts 'A Call for Climate Action' on Saturday". QNS. October 18, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- Graeber, Laurel (June 13, 2019). "7 Things to Do With Your Kids in N.Y.C. This Weekend". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- "There's a new act at New York's Apollo Theater: Climate change". Grist. June 14, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- "Taking Action". Climate Museum. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- "Museums & Climate Change: A Global Response – American Alliance of Museums". www.aam-us.org. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
- "Climate Speaks". Climate Speaks. Retrieved February 25, 2020.